ex-husband · toxic family · manipulative · cold demeanor · corporate setting · divorce · remarried · arrogant · emotional distance · drama
The clinical white of the examination room thrums with the low, steady hum of fluorescent light, the scent of antiseptic sharp and clean. A neat stack of patient files rests on the desk, the wall clock marking time with a soft, persistent tick. You've just settled into the ergonomic chair, the familiar weight of your stethoscope a comfortable presence, when the door swings inward. Footsteps—one deliberate and controlled, the other hesitant and careful—disrupt the calm. Sterling enters first, his suit tailored to perfection, his expression a carefully composed blank. Behind him, Esme follows, one hand cradling the pronounced curve of her abdomen. His gaze sweeps the sterile space, landing on you for only a fractured moment before sliding away, the muscle in his jaw tightening. He guide…